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CHICAGO -- The 300-level rowdies were howling in the third period when the Chicago Blackhawks' Jimmy Hayes was sent off the ice for a brutal boarding call on Michal Rozsival, who lay prone on the ice.

“That’s not a penalty!” one yelled.

This was halfway through the period and en route to a season-ending 4-0 loss to the Phoenix Coyotes. You wondered about the irony there, or maybe the hypocrisy, but really, you almost felt sorry for the bloodthirsty lot.

After all, they’re hockey fans, not irony fans. To the provincial, the Hayes’ hit wasn’t brutal, it was just a “hockey play.” Brutal was going 0-3 at home and missing all 39 shots in Game 6.

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CHICAGO -- Phoenix Coyotes defenseman Rostislav Klesla had to leave the ice in Game 6 after the first 69 seconds of play Monday night when he was injured in a collision with Chicago Blackhawks wing Brendan Morrison near the net.

Klesla headed to the locker room holding a towel to the right side of his head. Klesla has a goal and three assists in the first five games.

CHICAGO -- Injured Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa visited with his teammates at the United Center on Monday for the first time since he was forced out of Game 3 of Chicago's quarterfinal series against the Phoenix Coyotes by a hit to the head.

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Phoenix Coyotes forward Raffi Torres has been suspended 25 games by the NHL for his hit to the head of Chicago Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa during Game 3 Tuesday of their Western Conference quarterfinal series.

Torres appeared to jump into the hit at 11:51 of the first period, lowering his shoulder against the head of Hossa, who no longer had the puck.

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CHICAGO -- Marian Hossa left the United Center in an ambulance.

That was after he was carted off the ice, his neck stabilized, his body supine.

That was after he lay on the ice for long, scary minutes as the United Center piped in “Blue Moon,” to chill out the crowd (it didn’t work) and cut replays from the scoreboard.

That was after Hossa’s head bounced off the ice.

That was after Phoenix Coyotes aggressor Raffi Torres left his feet and rammed his left shoulder into Hossa’s right jaw.

That was after Torres, skating from behind, sized up Hossa like he was Brandon Meriweather on skates.

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CHICAGO -- The Chicago Blackhawks led the Phoenix Coyotes 1-0 after the first period of Game 3 at the United Center on Tuesday.

Patrick Kane scored with under 30 seconds to play in the period after a faceoff win by Marcus Kruger led to Kane’s shot near the point. Andrew Brunette provided the screen for him.

The Coyotes had 16 shots on net and the better scoring chances, while also earning two power plays, but the story of the first period was a scary hit by Raffi Torres on Marian Hossa. Torres hit Hossa in the head midway through the period after Hossa passed the puck. Hossa went down to the ice and was eventually carted off on a stretcher.

There was no further update on Hossa and no penalty was called on the play, although Brandon Bollig quickly jumped Torres and was given a roughing penalty.

The Hawks had 10 shots on net, but not many scoring chances other than on Kane’s goal.

CHICAGO -- Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa left the ice on a stretcher Tuesday night after sustaining an apparent head injury midway through the first period of Game 4 of Chicago's first-round series against the Phoenix Coyotes.

Hossa was leveled by Coyotes forward Raffi Torres after a pass in the neutral zone. Torres struck Hossa's head during the hit and Hossa immediately fell to the ice. There was no penalty called on the play.

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Phoenix Coyotes head coach Dave Tippett talks to the media about Andrew Shaw's hit on goalie Mike Smith, his team's injuries heading into Game 3 and how he'll adjust his match-ups.



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CHICAGO -- There are plenty of questions surrounding the fate of Chicago Blackhawks forward Andrew Shaw, who may face supplemental discipline for his illegal hit on Phoenix Coyotes goaltender Mike Smith.

After Shaw’s phone call with the league’s department of player safety early Monday afternoon it was assumed a decision on Shaw’s fate would be rendered by the end of that day. Was he going to be further punished? But late word from the league Monday afternoon said the decision is now coming Tuesday.

By rule the league must decide if it will hand down a fine or a suspension before the two teams play next. Game 3 is Tuesday night at the United Center. Why the wait, though? Most times a decision is made the same day, but not 100 percent of the time. So does Brendan Shanahan, who makes these decisions for the league, want to sleep on it? Is it something as innocent as the league had other matters to attend to on Monday?

Or is there more to it?

Another layer to the story was added when Smith didn’t take the ice for practice on Monday in Phoenix prior to the Coyotes’ departure for Chicago. Like the Hawks, the Coyotes had the day off on Sunday and all but Smith and two other known injured players -- Martin Hanzal and Lauri Korpikoski -- were on the ice on Monday. The idea that a goaltender would take a second consecutive day off without an injury seems remote.

“I told you we’re not talking about injuries, he’s fine,” coach Dave Tippett said Monday afternoon about Smith missing practice.

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DETROIT -- If you’re confused about the situation surrounding Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews you’re probably not alone. On the one hand he says he’s close to returning.

“I was very close to playing [Friday] or [Saturday], but now we have another four days or so,” Toews said on Friday.

But on the other hand he claims to still be feeling “symptoms” while he’s on the ice.

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DETROIT -- Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews has been ruled out of his team's regular season finale against the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday while he continues to recover from a concussion which has caused him to miss the last 21 games.

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CHICAGO -- The moment injured Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews took the ice for practice on Wednesday wearing a black jersey you knew it wasn’t a good sign.

All of the other top players for the Hawks – the ones who play on the power play -- were wearing red. Toews sat with the rest of the black jerseys -- the penalty killers -- as the power play drills were being run. It’s one thing for Toews not to take a regular line rush in practice -- maybe Joel Quenneville didn’t want to tip his hand -- but for Toews to sit out power play work, it meant he wasn’t playing.

In the dressing room afterwards, Toews left the door open, but Quenneville quickly shut it.

"We just talked about it," Quenneville told the assembled media. "He's going to come on the trip, but we're going to rule him out for (Thursday). All part of the process."

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CHICAGO -- Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews was hopeful to play for the first time in 21 games when his team takes on the Minnesota Wild on Thursday, but coach Joel Quenneville ruled him out as he continues to recover from a concussion.

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CHICAGO -- Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews is on the verge of taking contact in practice as he recovers from a reported concussion. It’s the final step before returning to the lineup.

“I’m not sure if it’s official yet,” Toews said about taking contact. “Every day I’m getting more and more confident with where I’m at. [Thursday] would be another one of those days. I’m getting very, very close.”

Toews practiced with his teammates Thursday morning but won’t play against the St. Louis Blues on Thursday night. It will be his 18th consecutive game he has missed.

“There are some hurdles you have to pass, medically,” Joel Quenneville said of Toews playing soon.

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CHICAGO -- Slowly, but surely, the Chicago Blackhawks are getting some of their walking wounded close to returning to the lineup.

Toews getting closer

Once again Jonathan Toews was able to practice with his teammates on Monday as he continues to recover from a concussion. He thinks he’s on the verge of being cleared for contact -- the final hurdle before playing again.

“I’m feeling pretty close to that, but before I tell you anything I have to discuss that with the training staff here,” Toews said Monday afternoon. “I think they’re trying to pull back the reins a little bit. These last few days I’ve been feeling good. When you get an inch you want to take a mile.”

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